hey all! i'm on the 'old school' side of the fence and really prefer manual stuff, and did find a manual trans '06 CC dsl 4wd. however it's got esof - how is the reliability of this system (switches, servos, vacuum, etc)? i'v only used 4wd in my '95 a couple times, and low range a couple times, in 11 years, but when i need it i need it...... thanks in advance for your input.
shift on the fly 4wd
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hey all! i'm on the 'old school' side of the fence and really prefer manual stuff, and did find a manual trans '06 CC dsl 4wd. however it's got esof - how is the reliability of this system (switches, servos, vacuum, etc)? i'v only used 4wd in my '95 a couple times, and low range a couple times, in 11 years, but when i need it i need it...... thanks in advance for your input.
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I've got 50k on mine & it works fine. I try to engage 4wd about once a month to keep things working. If I get to a job site that has a loose surface, I'll flip it in & tool around for a bit then flip out as I leave the site. I'll also rotate the switcth in the hubs in/out when I'm washing the truck. I would have prefered the manul lever, but this is woking fine for me. I had it on another truck for 60k miles & had no problems with that one.
With the ESOF, if you want to engage 4lo, you need to be stopped, foot on the brake, trans in neutral and then switch in. This is to keep you from accidentally switching into 4lo @ speed. You'll also need to follow that proceedure to get back out.
hey all! i'm on the 'old school' side of the fence and really prefer manual stuff, and did find a manual trans '06 CC dsl 4wd. however it's got esof - how is the reliability of this system (switches, servos, vacuum, etc)? i'v only used 4wd in my '95 a couple times, and low range a couple times, in 11 years, but when i need it i need it...... thanks in advance for your input.
[/ QUOTE ]
I've got 50k on mine & it works fine. I try to engage 4wd about once a month to keep things working. If I get to a job site that has a loose surface, I'll flip it in & tool around for a bit then flip out as I leave the site. I'll also rotate the switcth in the hubs in/out when I'm washing the truck. I would have prefered the manul lever, but this is woking fine for me. I had it on another truck for 60k miles & had no problems with that one.
With the ESOF, if you want to engage 4lo, you need to be stopped, foot on the brake, trans in neutral and then switch in. This is to keep you from accidentally switching into 4lo @ speed. You'll also need to follow that proceedure to get back out.
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332 Posts
wmeek, where did you find it? I have been searching for one with the six speed.
I have esof my truck 65K miles on it, I rarely use 4x4, tried it the last friday and it worked fine. I have had the auto hubs not unlock after use, but all it takes is a little wiggling and they unlock.
I have esof my truck 65K miles on it, I rarely use 4x4, tried it the last friday and it worked fine. I have had the auto hubs not unlock after use, but all it takes is a little wiggling and they unlock.
Sorry to chime in late.
Have ESOF on my truck. Transfer case always shifts in or out. Front hubs always lock but one or both front axles never unlock. Wiggle steering wheel back and forth, drive backwards several hundred feet but no good. I had to crawl under the truck and grab each axle and rotate the drive axle back and forth until I felt the hub unlock.
I've now disabled the vacuum system to the front hubs by unplugging the hoses at the vacuum solenoid mounted on the right inner fender under the hood and plugging the hoses. Now if I need 4 wheel drive I manually lock the front hubs them activate the dash ESOF switch. When I no longer need 4 wheel drive I turn the ESOF switch to 2WD and manually unlock the hubs. Hubs always, always unlock now.
As a side note I have read that some truck owners feel that the vacuum system may be the cause of early front hub bearing failure. The thinking is that the vacuum may be responsible for pulling the grease out from the bearing causing the bearing to operate dry.
Have ESOF on my truck. Transfer case always shifts in or out. Front hubs always lock but one or both front axles never unlock. Wiggle steering wheel back and forth, drive backwards several hundred feet but no good. I had to crawl under the truck and grab each axle and rotate the drive axle back and forth until I felt the hub unlock.
I've now disabled the vacuum system to the front hubs by unplugging the hoses at the vacuum solenoid mounted on the right inner fender under the hood and plugging the hoses. Now if I need 4 wheel drive I manually lock the front hubs them activate the dash ESOF switch. When I no longer need 4 wheel drive I turn the ESOF switch to 2WD and manually unlock the hubs. Hubs always, always unlock now.
As a side note I have read that some truck owners feel that the vacuum system may be the cause of early front hub bearing failure. The thinking is that the vacuum may be responsible for pulling the grease out from the bearing causing the bearing to operate dry.
Joined
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367 Posts
When I bought my 03 F350 I searched the region for a manual transfer shift. I found it configured exactly as I would have ordered it, down to the color. Got lucky I guess.
Why I was so adamant about manual t-case shifting? I had my transfer case go out on my 92 K2500 while on an elk hunt. Ruined a perfectly good day of hunting as it went out before the sun even came up. Had to turn around and head back to camp. Spent all morning and part of the afternoon taking apart the t-case, removing the servo and trying to bail it back to force the t-case. Nothing worked. About mid afternoon my buddy asked me if I checked the fuse. Sure enough...blown. I replaced it and we were back in business.
I have this weird feeling about all this automatic BS they put on these trucks. Manual seems to be more reliable.
Then when I shopped for my 06 I realized I rarely take my F350 off road. I do not hunt out of it. I figured this go-around I would get the ESOF. I have to say, I really like it. Makes my life so much easier when I decide I need 4x4.
But if I were doing off-road regulalry, I would stick with manual.
Nate
Why I was so adamant about manual t-case shifting? I had my transfer case go out on my 92 K2500 while on an elk hunt. Ruined a perfectly good day of hunting as it went out before the sun even came up. Had to turn around and head back to camp. Spent all morning and part of the afternoon taking apart the t-case, removing the servo and trying to bail it back to force the t-case. Nothing worked. About mid afternoon my buddy asked me if I checked the fuse. Sure enough...blown. I replaced it and we were back in business.
I have this weird feeling about all this automatic BS they put on these trucks. Manual seems to be more reliable.
Then when I shopped for my 06 I realized I rarely take my F350 off road. I do not hunt out of it. I figured this go-around I would get the ESOF. I have to say, I really like it. Makes my life so much easier when I decide I need 4x4.
But if I were doing off-road regulalry, I would stick with manual.
Nate
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512 Posts
there are several closer to you, a dealer near athens ga has about 6 of them, most are duallies. and today a fl dealer found one for me, i am not sure where it is, but it is 700 miles from ft laud, fl. maybe your dealer can do a trade. good luck
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